893.01/961: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the
Secretary of State
Chungking, September 14,
1943.
[Received September 14—3:30 p.m.]
1706. Central News Agency September 12 reports passage by Central Executive
Committee of resolution according to which National Government will convene
National Congress within 1 year after conclusion of war in order to have
constitution adopted and promulgated, National Congress to decide upon date
when constitution is to come into effect.
Text of pertinent portion of resolution is as follows:
- “(1) The party and government organs of the whole country,
with the exception of the provinces in the rear which should
intensify the work of promoting local self government by taking
advantage of the ground work already done, shall hereafter, as
the lost territories are one after another recovered from the
enemy, take active steps to help the people of the liberated
areas to complete the establishment of local self government and
the organization of professional bodies as soon as possible in
order to lay a firm foundation for constitutional government,
and this shall be regarded as the most important work in
demobilization and national reconstruction;
- (2) within one year after the conclusion of the war the
National Government shall convene the National Congress so as to
have a constitution adopted and promulgated, and the National
Congress shall decide upon the date when the constitution is to
come into force;
- (3) those who have already become delegates to the National
Congress in accordance with law, with the exception of those who
have become disqualified owing to acts of high treason, death or
other causes, shall retain their status of delegates; those
electoral areas and professional bodies which either did not
complete their election or were unable to hold the election
shall elect their delegates in accordance with law and the
election shall be completed at the latest 3 months before the
convocation of the National Congress;
- (4) the preparations for the convocation of the National
Congress and the establishment of constitutional government
shall be undertaken by the authorities concerned under the
direction of the National Government.”
